CITU warns of stir over Health Department policies

CITU Kollam district committee has announced plans to launch a major agitation against the Health Department, protesting what it terms as unjustified transfers, political appointments, and threats to terminate long-serving temporary employees. The union strongly urged the State government to immediately halt retaliatory measures that shatter the morale of healthcare workers, especially at a time when infectious diseases are rapidly spreading across Kerala. The union demanded that the government build trust and move forward collectively rather than intimidating temporary staff working under the National Health Mission (NHM) and Hospital Management Committees (HMC), who have dedicated years to the healthcare sector. “These healthcare professionals were the backbone of Kerala’s resilience during major crises like COVID-19, Nipah outbreaks, floods, and Ockhi. The unified spirit shown by the government, employees, and the public during those trying times remains a model for everyone, but the morale of the very personnel who elevated Kerala’s healthcare to global standards is now severely broken due to unfair management practices,” said the leadership. They added that Ministers and ruling party leaders still appear to be caught up in post-election victory celebrations instead of addressing pressing public health needs. “Kollam District Hospital is currently functioning without adequate doctors and has no personnel available to conduct post-mortem examinations, they said.